25 | Social aspects of motion sickness among offshore wind farm workers. Health and behavioural experiences

Fenn A | PhD Research Fellow, Research Centre for Maritime Health and Technology, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark

Background: Motion sickness (MS) represents a significant occupational health challenge in offshore wind farm operations, particularly where crew transfer vessels (CTV) are used to transport personnel to turbines. The transfer of workers from vessel to turbine is recognised as a high-risk operation, and in practice vessels are often returned to shore if workers report vomiting or nausea. This practice has cost implications for wind farm operators.

Materials and Methods: This study employs a mixed-methods approach to investigate the prevalence, health effects, and behavioural dimensions of MS among offshore wind farm workers. Data were collected through an online survey, semi-structured interviews with offshore workers, and observational voyages on CTV on the west coast of Denmark.

Results: Operational procedures concerning MS are frequently absent or vague. Where rules do exist, vomiting is often treated as pathognomonic of MS and serves as the threshold for aborting transfers. This reinforces a narrow construct of MS that neglects subjective symptoms which may impair performance. Practices and cultural influences appear to stigmatise disclosure of MS unless symptoms are sufficiently severe that the worker has no choice but to disclose. Organisational rules often limit the use of pharmacological treatments due to perceived or actual side effects, without necessarily being backed by data. Such rules are often not sufficiently clear for workers, restricting options and agency. The absence of MS mitigation training presents a gap in operational practice which should be addressed. Reporting MS appears to undermine worker status, wellbeing, and potentially job security.

Conclusions: Exposure to vessel motion is likely to increase with the move to larger turbines, the expansion of floating offshore wind, and older wind farms requiring more frequent maintenance. This study highlights the need for further understanding of and strategies addressing both the physiological and sociocultural aspects of MS in the offshore wind sector.